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Instagram Head Testifies in Meta Child Social Media Trial
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s leader, testified in a major court case about children using social media.
The case was brought by 29 states against Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook.
Four states say Meta designed the apps to keep young people using them too much.
They say this may have contributed to anxiety, depression, and suicide.
The states also say Meta collected information from children under 13 improperly.
Meta says it did not try to addict children and that its research does not show a clear connection between social media and poor well-being.
Another Instagram executive said teenagers saw more harmful content than adults in one company presentation.
A judge will ultimately decide whether Meta broke the law and what penalties or changes may be required.
The trial is expected to continue through much of September.
Adam Mosseri testified as a central witness in a lawsuit brought by 29 U.S. states against Meta.
Four states accuse Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook to hook young users and harm their safety.
All 29 states allege Meta improperly collected and used data from children under 13.
Meta denies seeking to addict children and says its research found no clear link to adolescent social-media use and poor well-being.
The trial may result in nearly $200 billion in penalties, with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to decide Meta’s liability.
- Who
- Instagram head Adam Mosseri, Meta Platforms, and 29 U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey.
- What
- A federal trial is examining whether Meta designed Instagram and Facebook to addict children, endangered their safety, and improperly handled children’s data.
- Where
- The trial is taking place in federal court in Oakland, California.
- When
- Mosseri began testifying on Tuesday, August 25; the trial is expected to continue through much of September.
- Why
- The states allege that Meta’s platform designs harmed young users and that it improperly collected and used personal data from children under 13.
States’ allegations
Meta’s defense
Platform design
States’ allegations
Four states say Meta designed Instagram and Facebook to hook young users, without proper regard for their safety.
Meta’s defense
Meta rejects the accusation that it sought to addict children for profit and says its products and policies evolve.
Mental-health effects
States’ allegations
The states say the platforms fueled anxiety, depression, and even suicide among young users.
Meta’s defense
Meta says its research found no clear link between adolescents’ social-media use and a lack of well-being.
Child data and safety features
States’ allegations
All 29 states allege Meta improperly collected and used data from children under 13; testimony also addressed the removal of concerning data from a safety presentation and the design of the “take a break” feature.
Meta’s defense
Mosseri has defended Instagram’s design choices and disputed suggestions that the company did not care about children’s safety.
Key facts
- Witness
- Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head since 2018
- Plaintiffs
- 29 U.S. states
- Potential penalties
- Nearly $200 billion in civil penalties
- Judge
- U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers
- Advisory verdict
- Jurors are expected to issue an advisory verdict
- Teen safety presentation
- An Instagram design executive testified that teenagers saw 1.5 times more bullying, suicide, hate, nudity, and violent content than adults
- Trial duration
- The proceedings are expected to continue through much of September
Quotes
Adam Mosseri
Head of Instagram and central witness for Meta in the child safety trial
“we try to focus on the most important issues.”
livemint.com
Sources
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